Georgian Monastery of St. Nina Changes Name

UNION BRIDGE, MD—The Georgian Diocese in North America's Monastery of Saint Nina has changed its name to the Sacred Monastery of Saint Sidonia. 

The email announcement addresses the recent name change by noting the monastery's deepening connection with Saint Nina and appealing to her life. 

As our connection to Saint Nina has deepened over time, we recently dedicated our monastery to Saint Sidónia – whom Saint Nina set out to find, with the blessing of her uncle, Patriarch Juvenal of Jerusalem, in order to venerate the Robe of our Lord Jesus Christ, which Saint Sidónia was buried holding tightly in her arms. And thus her whole country became sanctified, being renamed Georgia by Saint Nina.

The announcement notes that the monastery's Catholikon (main church) will continue to be dedicated to Saint Nina, and both saints will be honored together in every service. 

Saint Sidónia now joins Saint Nina in watching over our monastery, and we are the first community in the world to bear her name. Just as the Robe of our Lord rests in Saint Sidónia’s embrace, the church of Saint Nina – with all its members, friends, and pilgrims – is held securely in the heart of our Monastery of Saint Sidónia.

The email links to the St. Nina Monastery website, which does not appear to have been updated to reflect the name change.

The monastery recently underwent a large shake-up when its abbess, along with the abbots of many Georgian monasteries in America, were removed from their positions and laicized. 

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